Par pops for Latam pic

Romantic comedy 'Pretendiendo' picked up

Paramount Pictures Intl. has grabbed Latin American distribution rights to romantic comedy “Pretendiendo.” Regional pickup is a first for Paramount.

Acquisitions by Paramount in Mexico have been limited to video rights to various Mexican films, while Paramount in Brazil has backed several local films in compliance with the Portuguese-language country’s tax incentive system.

Shot in Chile by Chilean helmer/co-writer Claudio Dabed, pic centers around a beauty (Barbara Mori), who makes herself unattractive to shield herself from more romantic disappointments.

Paramount is set to release the pic first in Mexico at the end of September. Chile is to follow a few weeks later, says Raul Bravo of Paramount Pictures Mexico, who cobbled the deal with pic’s Los Angeles-based Chilean rep Matias Lira.

“We’re still evaluating when to release it in the other territories, but we’ll probably release it on video in Brazil where Spanish-language films have not done so well theatrically,” he added.

Lionsgate is poised to release “Pretendiendo,” in October. “Pretendiendo” is Lionsgate’s second Spanish-language pic under its joint venture with Jim McNamara’s Panamax Films. Like its first release, “La mujer de mi hermano,” “Pretendiendo” stars Mori and features a pan-Latin cast and crew.

“This is a new strategy that is beginning to bear fruit in Latin America,” said Lira, who also repped “La mujer de mi hermano”: “We are combining artistic talent and crew from various countries in the region in order to make more commercially viable films.”